Oscillation-receiver.



G. W. PIGKARD.

OSGILLATION EEcEIvEE.

7 APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 16, 1907.

924,827 Patel 11m Jun ,15, 1909 E -5. n\ I E 7 J F UNITED STATES rnrnnzr earnes GREENLEAF WHITTIER PICKARD, OF AMESBURY, MASSAOHUfiiETTS.

OSCILLATION-RECEIVER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented ilnne 15, 1909.

Application filed September 16, 1907. Serial No 393,167.

form of the invention which I now consider to be the best of the various forms in which the principles of the invention may be em- I bodied.

The invention involves the conjoint action, in an oscillation receiver, of a pair of certain electrical conductors, each of which possesses in a high degree the property of rectifying electrical oscillations, but in each of which this property is active in the opposite direction to that in which the activity is manifest ed in the other conductor, when the'two condoctors are operated respectively with a third conductor indifi'ercnt as to the rectifying property; the two effective conductors being combined in one device, in accordance with this invention, so that the rectifying effects of both of the conductors cooperate instead of acting in opposition, to the end of greatly increasing the useful effect of a rectifying oscillation receiver.

The invention involves also various other features to be hereinafter described and claimed.

Of the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are diagrams of elements of the invention, and Fig. 3 is an illustration in elevation of the best embodiment of the invention.

I have found that while one rectifying conductor, cooperating in a receiver or detector with another conductor which has indifferent rectifying properties or which lacks other properties which might act in opposition, provides a useful device, nevertheless a greatly improved device may be constituted of'such a special conductor when combined in a receiver or detector with another s ecial rectifying conductor in such manner t at the rec tifying actions of both conductors cooperate to cause an additive or cumulative effect. This improved device is based on my observations that while certain of these rectifying conductors operatin with one direction of resultant. current w an oscillations passed through the device, certain other such conductors operated with an opposite direction of resultant current under like conditions,

in each, case with respect to an indifierent non-rectifying conductor used as a standard. The improved device is based upon my i'urther observations that in the case of such two' rectifying conductors acting oppositely with respect to a standard non-rectifying conductor, they could be combined to cooperate in such way that the action of their rectifying properties would be additive or cumulative,

instead of in opposition. For example, I have observed, specifically, that when an ordinary or indifferent or non-rectifying con ductor such as brass is combined as one mem ber of a detector in good small aread contact with the electrically conducting mineral manganite, an oxid of the diaspore group of hydrous oxids, an effective current results from the brass through the contact to the specified conductor, upon the passage of oscillations,

owing to the rectifying power of the latter conductor, which is very high, and effective in a direction such as to oppose oscillations passing in the opposite direction. And i have observed that when the same indiifcr- .ent conductor, brass, used as above as a standard of comparison, is used with the electrically conducting solid oxid of zinc, an effective current results from the oxid of zinc through the contact to the brass, upon the passage of oscillations, owing to the rectify lng property of the latter conductor, which is very high and eil'ective in a direction such as to oppose oscillations passing in the opposite direction.

Thus, considering the manganite conductor M, Fig. 1, I have observed that this possesses in a high degree the property of rectification, as shown by, testing itin any suitable manner, such as the way known to physicists and consisting in connecting the conductor in circuit with a source of electromotive force, a galvanonleter and a reversing switch, and noting the results, by the galvanometer deflections, of applying and reversing a member of diiferent de rees of potential. As indicated in Fig. l, w rare the other or indifferent conductor A is of brass, and where the two conductors have a suitable or extremely small area of contact 0, with each other, the rectifying property acts to oppose a current in the direction of arrow 1, and to facilitate or at least not substantially oppose the passage of-a current in the direction of arrow 2, so that the resulting efiiective current derived from the electrical oscillations is 111 the direction ot arrow 2;

that is, into the conductor M through contact O, as clearly indicated by the prominent arrow 7. By selecting and testing other conductors, as above, another conductor may be found which rectifies with :respect'to brass in the opposite direction from that in which M acts with brass; Thus,

I have found that Z Fig. 2, (oxid of zinc) when in suitable small-aread contact at O with the brass'conduetor A, acts to a highdegree to o pose oscillations passing in the direction arrow 3 and tofacilitate or at least notoppose the passage of currents in the direction of arrow 4, the resultant effective current from electrical oscillations'being in the direction of arrow 4 that is, out from conductor Z through contact 0 as clearly indicated by the prominent arrow 8. This is the opposite direction from that of arrow 2 of Fig. 1, which was the effective resultantof the action of the device of Fig. 1.

- Either of the devices Fig. l or Fig. 2, constitutes an efficient detector; but I have further vfound that the best results, in a commercial form of apparatus, are obtained by employingtwo sue conductors as M and Z which have a wide specific conductivity difference. Even without a wide conductivity difference the invention is extremely useful,

but the emplo ment of conductors such as those herein risclosed produces better results, owing to their conductivity difference.

' ,I have further found that the rectification action of such conductors as M is effective when used in combination with such conductors as Z,and that the current resultant of this action of M- in such combination is in the same direction as inthe case of Fig. l. I have also found that the rectification action of such conductors as Z is effective when used in combination with such conductors as and that the current resultant of this accombined so that the rectifying action of each conductor aids and assists the corresponding action in the other'conductor. This object isattaincd by simply placing such two conductors in good and suitably sn'ntll-armnl contact withcirch other, the

pressure not being excessive, but adjusted to the particular conditions of use. Thus, as shown in Fig. 3, where the area of contact at O (as at 0 and Figs. 1 and 2)--is suitably small, the joint effect of the action of the rectifying properties of M and Z will be additive or cumulative, such as to provide a device much more efficient than those of Figs. 1 or 2, notwithstanding that the resultants of the action of M and Z are in opposition as compared with each .other, and with respect to a third or indifferent conductor, the action of one being to oppose oscillations passing from it through the con- '-tact,,and the action of he. other being to oppeseoscillations passing through the con tact to it. As we have seen in Fig. 1, the effective resultant of the action of M is a current through the brass member A in a direction from the member A through the contact to. M; so in Fig. 3 the effective resultant of the action of M is a current in the direction of arrow 5, i. 0., .to M through the contact 0 from the other conductor.

And the currents opposedby M in Fig. 3'

are in the direction of arrow 6, which are those currents'which leave M through the contact with the other conductor, as in the case of Fig. 1, in the,direction of arrow 1. Likewise, with respect to the independent but cooperative action of Z, the effective resultant in Fig. 2 is in the direction of arrow 4, of currents leaving Z through its contact withA, which is the direction of the arrow 5 in Fig. 3, toward the other conductor. And the currents opposed by the rectifyingaction of Z are in the direction of the arrow 6 of Fig. 3 and of arrow 3 of Fig. 2, which is the direction of currents passing out from Z through it's junction with A and M respectively in Figs. 2 and 3. in Fig. 3, the mechanical reversal of M with respect to its position in Fig. 1, reverses the absolute direction of the passage of currents, as to the rectifying proper? ic that conductor, although the respective directions of current flow as to the rectil'yin property are constant with respect to thi} small-arcad contact. lt now clear, therefore, that since in Fig. 3 the action of each of M and Z is such as to oppose oscillations in the direction of arrow 6, and such as to per-. mit the passage of oscillations in the direction of arrow 5, the efl'ective resultant will be a current, as at it (Fig. 3), in thedirection of arrow Thus the effects of the coopcrativcly-acting rectifying properties 'of M and Z, as in Fig. 3, will be added together in the circuit, so as to operate the usual indicating device in a much more efficient manner than by means of either of the devices of Figs. 1 or 2.

The area of physical contact between M creased cllicicncv which accompanies the best or the smallcstmread electrical contact. in practice a suitable small contact is produced by' providing '/1 with a rough contact surface, as shown in Fig. 3, and procease? duced as by fracturing the substance Z.

.The two members may be pressed together by any suitable means known in the art, so as to secure such-good contact at the contact surfaces as will not be accompanied by a breakage of the conductors. The device of Fig. 3 may be connected, in any. of the ways known to those skilled in the art, so as to operate with wireless telegraphy or telephony circuits, or in other similar uses.

It is preferred, as shown in Fig. 3, that M and Z be each embedded in fusible metal F in a receptacle or cup D. i

There may be other properties of M and Z which are involved in the electrical action of the device, either advantageously or dole-- teriously, and if advantageously, to a less degree than the rectifying properties of the members, or, if deleteriously, to a less degree than the resultant of the effect of said rectifying properties-;-but theproperties specified are the ones essentially involved in this invention.

I claim: I

1. An oscillation receiver, which comprises two electrical conductors which re spectively possess rectifying properties, the action of one conductor being to oppose oscillations passing from it toward the other, and the act-ion of the other conductor being to oppose oscillations passing to it from the other. Y

2. An oscillation receiver which corriprises two massive electrical conductors which respectively possess rectifying properties, the action of one conductor being to oppose oscillations passing from it toward the other, and

the action of the other conductor being to oppose oscillations passing to it from the other.

3. An oscillation receiver, which comprises two electrical conductors which respectively possess rectifying properties, and which have a si'nall-thread contact with each other.

4. An oscillation receiver, which comprises two massive electrical conductors which res pectively possess rectifying properties which are oppositely active and cooperatively effective with respect to their contact with each other, said contact home extremelysmall electrically.

5. An oscillation receiver, which comprises two electrical conductors which respectively possess rectifying properties which are oppositely activc and cooperatively effective with respect to their contact with each other,

at least one of said conductors being a conducting mineral.

two electrical conductors which respectively possess rectifying properties which are op positely active and cooperatively effective with respect to their contact with each other,

ical compound. I v

7. An oscillation receiver, which comprises two electrical conductors which respectively possess rectifying properties which are ope positely active and cooperatively efiective with respect to their contact with each other, one of said conductors being of substantially lower specific conductivity than the other.

8. An oscillation receiver, which comprises two electricallyconducting chemical compounds which respectively possess rectifying properties which are oppositely active and cooperatively effective with respect to their contact with each other.

9. An oscillation receiver, which comprises two conducting minerals which respectively possess rectifying properties which are oppositely active and cooperatively effective witiirespect to their contact with each other.

10 An oscillation receiver which cornprisestwo electrical conductors having wide conductivity differences and possessing rectifying properties which are oppositely active, but cooperatively effective with respect to their contact with each other.

11. An oscillation receiver which comprises two electrical conductors, one of which is manganite and the other oxid of zinc.

12. an oscillation receiver which comprises two electrical conductors, one of whichis an oxid andthe other of which is an oxid of the hydrous oxid grou 13. A rectifier of fee ble alternating or oscillatory currents, such as those produced by electric waves, which comprises an electricaily conducting solid oXid possessing the property of rectification of alternating currents in general, said solid bxid having the following operative conditions for the above 5 ecified purpose; a substantially perfect e ectrigal contact of said solid oxid witlrth e two circuit conductors of the oscillation circuit respectively, one at least of said conductors being of material different from said solid maid and the contact between said solid oXid and said different conductor being sufficiently minute to permit effective action of the rectifying property of said solid oxid upon the oscillatory impulses of said feeble character; the'contact of said solid oXid with the other circuit conductor of the oscillation circuit being of sultlicient magnitude to prevent substantial rectification in opposition to the effective rectifying action by the minute contact.

14. A rectifier of feeble alternating or oscillatory currents, such as those produced by electric waves, which com rises an electrically conducting, solid metal ic oxid possessing 6. An oscillation receiver, which ,:omprises i w'itli another conductor of different material. at least one of said conductors being a chenil5. A rectifier of feeble alternating or oseillatory currents, such as those produced by electric waves, which comprises an electrically conducting'solicl possessing the property of icctllicatloiilolia'ltornlttltlg currents in general said solid havin the followin o era.

tive conditions for the above specified purpose; a substantially perfect electrical contact of said solid with the two circuit eonductors of the oscillation circuit respectively, one at least of said circuit conductors being of material di'fi'erent from said solid and the contact between said solid and said different circuit conductor being su'll'iciently minute to permit ell'ective action of the rectifying propertyof said solid upon the oscillatory lmpulses of said feeble character; the contact of said solid with the other circuit conductor oi the oscillation circuit being of sufhcient rnagmtudc to prevent substantial rectification in opposition to the efi'ective rectifying action by the minute contact.

16. A rectifier of feeble alternating or oscillating currents, such as those produced by electric waves, which (50111 )rises an electric ally conducting member 0 oxid of zinc ossessing the property of rectification 0f ailernating currents, said member having as an operative element of the rectifier, a substantially erfect electrical contact of minute area with another conductor of dil'le1'ent n1a,

lerlal.

GREENLHA 1* Wll l'lTlLil PlUKAlllll Witnesses:

EDWARD H. HOWELL, MYRA Rowan. 

